WATCHWORD:
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
Meditation:
Go Fish!
Our faith journeys are many and varied, but each one has been led by the Holy Spirit. Yesterday we considered the walk that Mark followed to discipleship. Today, we consider journeys followed by others that helped transform God’s Will into our own path to belief. Biblical facts mixed with a bit of fiction.
Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee. Four boys who lived in the village all their lives, and had grown up to become fisherman, in partnership with their fathers. It was a good life, they made an adequate living. When they were not fishing, or repairing their nets, they had occasion to be out and around, pursuing other interests.
For Andrew, his path crossed that of John the Baptist and he became a follower until the Baptist pointed him to Jesus, saying “He must become greater, and I lessor.” Andrew and his fellow fisherman, John, came upon Jesus speaking on the street to anyone who would listen. Andrew convinced his brother, Simon, to come and see and know the carpenter-teacher, and John did the same, with his brother James.
The four friends liked what they were hearing, and would often seek out Jesus. Then, later, they, along with others, frequently found their way to where the man was building his home, listened to him and engaged him in conversation. Those gatherings continued, month after month.
Perhaps a year or so later, the four friends were repairing their nets, near their boats, that were beached on the shore. They were not surprised to see Jesus coming toward them. In a brief conversation, he tells them that he leaving Capernaum for a while, going to other towns to share his message with others, and invites them to go with him. Come, follow me, He said. And, so, begins the transformation of these fishermen, into fishers of men.
For the two pairs of brothers, Simon and Andrew, James and John, as well as Levi, the invitation to come follow was a life-changing invitation. Simon, we know him as Peter, would become the rock on which the Lord would build his church. Levi, whom we know as Matthew, the youngest of all the apostles, would turn his back on being a tax collector and become a teacher of the Word. James would emerge as leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem, and Andrew, a teacher and spreader of the Word throughout the region.
You and I have similar stories. Oh sure, the times may be different, the names have changed (to protect the innocent?), but the story is the same. We are transformed, we are changed because of this Man, this God-Man, because His love surrounds us at all times, and eventually our eyes were opened, and we followed. Our hearts were stirred and we took seriously the charge to love, and to acknowledge that God’s love is an active Word, a life-changing Word, and we have been blessed to go fishing and be a blessing to others.
Grab your spiritual fishing pole, and go fishing in our daily lives. Go with God.
Blessing:
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord cause His face to shine upon you, and give you His peace. May the Lord give us the strength and courage to go fish and share the life-giving Word. Amen.
— Stan
The Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen
